Florent Malouda says Didier Drogba was just a lippy unknown when he first shared a dressing room with him. Drogba, despite a recent loan spell, has become one of the most feared strikers in the world. But winger Malouda reveals that, when they first met in French football, he upset their team-mates with his bossy attitude.

“Didier arrived at Guingamp during the winter transfer market,” said Malouda. “We had a bit of a crisis and had to sign a player to save the club. The manager gambled on Didier. No one knew who he was. They asked, ‘Didier Drogba, who’s he? Where does he play? (more…)

Former coach of the Canadian women program John Herdman is set to take over the men’s program. He was named the replacement following the sack of Octavio Zambrano last March. His formal title is national team head coach and men’s excel director.

The shock announcement came on Monday, with the Canadian Soccer Association chief Steve Reed claiming it was “an organizational decision.” Fans reacted as expected, wishing Herdman well but expressing their shock and disappointment in such a move.(more…)

Canada soccer team will be playing a friendly game against El Salvador that will be hosted in Houston later this month. The Canadian Soccer Federation has stated that a part of the proceeds of the match will be donated to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

At the same time, this will allow the Canada team to get some practice and evaluate themselves. Canada has won their last competitive game 2-0 against Jamaica and will want to test themselves against another quarter-finalist of the last Gold Cup.

Liverpool’s summer addition Mohammed Salah has been on blistering form since moving to Anfield. The Egypt international has scored ten times in 13 starts for the Reds, equalling the club record held by Daniel Sturridge since 2013 for fastest player to reach double figures goals in the Premier League era – beating even Didier Drogba in the process.

The 25-year-old’s 15 goals in all competitions have been monumental for Liverpool, particularly as their other goalscorers’ seem to be on break. His goals so far are the highest for the club since the exit of prolific striker Luis Suarez in 2014. With age on his side, there are already calls that he could match or exceed Didier Drogba’s record in the league. (more…)

As usual, with the failure to make the 2018 World Cup Finals, analysts have been trying to point out the issues that hampered the team. Most of them agree that the schedule of the Major League Soccer (MLS) affected the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) in a way, whilst it obviously also impacts on Canadian soccer too – which have around a quarter of th funding that USA have.

The former manager of the USMNT Jurgen Klinsmann allowed the tension between the team and the league to reach record heights. As a business, the MLS adopts models or processes that do not favour the national team as much. Notably in 2014, Klinsmann blasted the MLS for hurting the national team. (more…)

On March of 2017, the Ecuadorian born manager Octavio Zambrano was officially unveiled as the new manager of the Canadian national Soccer team as he replaced the interim coach of that time Michael Findlay.

¨I would like to thank Canada Soccer for this incredible opportunity to lead the Men’s National Team Program and align the strong and deep talent pool that exists from coast to coast¨

¨My passion is the development of young athletes and I view football as part sport, part art, and part entertainment. I will look to portray all three through the tactics and player development within the Men’s National Team program¨ Octavio Zambrano said as he voiced his appreciation for being proposed with this new managerial position.

Octavio Zambrano has over 25 years of experience involving managing clubs as his 1st job was way back on 1990 when he was the assistant coach of California Kickers, a team that later went on to become an amateur club as they opted to leave the American Professional Soccer League. (more…)

Jamaica defeated Canada in a Gold Cup clash quarter final in Phoenix with Andre Blake enjoying an excellent game.

The thrilling encounter ended 2-1 with the Jamaicans through to the last four of the tournament.

The Reggae Boyz started the game on a good note when Shaun Francis latched onto a cross from Darren Mattocks to score in the opening minutes of the clash. The Canadian soccer side could have equalized in the tenth minute through a set piece but CyleLarin sent his effort wide. The Orlando City striker Larin was drafted into the team for the knockout stage as the CONCACAF biennial competition permits.

Mattocks had his own opportunity in the 17th minute but his shot failed to beat Canada keeper Milan Borjan. As play resumed after the break, Romario Williams received a pass from Mattocks before sending his shot past Borjan. (more…)

Canada has been without any professional soccer League for the last two and a half decades.

The last time when a professional league had taken place in Canada was in the year 1992 after which the local association stopped organising it because of some reason and it’s needless to say that the soccer has suffered in the region since then because of that and the decision making authorities in Canadian soccer have probably realised it as they have decided to start the league once again.

Till now some of the famous Canadian clubs like Montreal Impact etc. have been taking part in the Major League Soccer which is a league organised by the USA Federation and now despite Canada going to have its own league again, those clubs will still keep participating in the American league only and won’t be a part of their home league.

A total of three clubs from Canada are actually involved in the Major League Soccer. Apart from Montreal Impact, there are a couple of other clubs based in Vancouver and Toronto respectively which are associated with MLS. (more…)

The Canadian national football team is a squad that is significantly struggling and it has become evident as they are ranked at the 117th by the FIFA standings which is one of their lowest placing’s ever.

This is not a recent thing either as the Canadian national side has historically struggled trying to even qualify for the big tournaments in the world of football including the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Confederations Cup.

When it comes to competing in the FIFA World Cup, Canada has only managed to reach the group stages during the 1986 edition of the competition and they have failed to qualify or have simply not entered in any other World Cup.

Things might be changing for the good of Canada soon as they have recently announced a new head coach and this tactician is an experienced tactician who appears to be eager and optimistic about the challenges that are lying ahead. (more…)